The Senate has raised the alarm over starvation of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in camps across the country, requesting the Federal Government to release necessary funds from the Service Wide Vote in the 2016 budget.

The Senate also asked government to make use of the Victim Support Fund under Gen. Theophilus Danjuma for urgent intervention.

This resolution followed a motion by Sen. Baba-Kaka Garbai (APC-Borno Central), who highlighted a recent report by the United Nations Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF) on the disturbing level of malnutrition in IDP camps.

Senate Committee on Special Duties was mandated to carry out a fact finding visit to the troubled states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe to find out the true challenges of the IDPS.

Senate further urged the Federal Government to coordinate immediate fund raising with the private sector, to ensure that no Nigerian child or woman dies of malnutrition while commending governments of affected states and neighbouring states for their efforts in accommodating and feeding some of the IDPs.

Sen. Garbai told his colleagues that it was disheartening to note that the problem of malnutrition in IDP camps was gradually becoming an international embarrassment especially when the Senate approved the sum of N10 billion under the Service Wide Vote, to relocate IDPs nationwide.

He said: “We are appalled by the reported figure, an estimated 485,000 of acute malnutrition in the affected areas, while 128 of the children die every day, meaning five children die every hour.

“The report also indicated that $349 million will be required to take care of the IDPS. We are worried that the organisation in a statement signed by its head of mission in Nigeria described the situation as catastrophic.”

•Photo shows the Senate in session.

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